SAAQclic: Investigations
Investigating bodies
Potential offenses
Raids conducted
- Auditor General of Quebec - Completed (February 2025)
- Gallant Commission - Public inquiry (April-October 2025, report released February 2026)
- UPAC - Criminal investigation (ongoing)
- Autorité des marchés publics (AMP) - Contract oversight (completed June 2025)
Agency
UPAC (Unité permanente anticorruption / Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit)
Also known as CLCC (Commissaire à la lutte contre la corruption)
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 2025 | Investigation initiated after Auditor General's report |
| June 5, 2025 | UPAC confirms active investigation |
| June 18, 2025 | UPAC raids SAAQ headquarters in Quebec City |
| September 2025 | 17+ witnesses interviewed by ~20 investigators |
| Ongoing | Investigation continues |
Alleged Offenses Under Investigation
According to court documents made public:
- Breach of trust by a public official
- Fraud
- Forgery
Suspects
- Four suspects under investigation (names not publicly disclosed)
- Witnesses include Daniel Pelletier, Vincent Poirier, Jérôme Verreault, and others who testified at the Gallant Commission
Cooperation Issues
- SAAQ initially refused to hand over documents citing attorney-client privilege
- Premier Legault publicly called on SAAQ to cooperate
- SAAQ eventually agreed to lift professional secrecy and provide documents
The investigation remains ongoing. No charges have been filed as of early 2026.
Agency: Quebec's public contract oversight authority
Report Released: June 2025 (51-page report)
Key Findings
Fair Competition Violated
- SAAQ undermined principles of fair competition
- Transparency in public spending compromised
SAP Conflict of Interest
- SAP helped define project requirements before bidding
- This gave SAP inside information unavailable to competitors
- SAP also provided training to employees who wrote the RFP
Contract Splitting
- SAAQ split contracts into smaller portions
- This practice can be used to avoid stricter oversight thresholds
- Over 1,800 "satellite contracts" with external suppliers not included in main contract cost
CGI Bid Never Considered
- CGI/Oracle consortium offered 29% cheaper bid
- Eliminated before price envelopes were opened
- Selection process showed potential bias
Actions Taken
April 10, 2025: AMP ordered suspension of CASA contracts
- Transport Minister ordered internal review
- Focused on SAAQ governance and management practices
- Findings fed into broader investigations
Immediate Consequences
- Éric Caire resigned as Minister (February 2025)
- Éric Ducharme reassigned as SAAQ CEO (July 2025)
- Multiple ministers testified under oath
Potential Future Consequences
- Criminal charges possible if UPAC investigation yields sufficient evidence
- Gallant Commission report (February 2026) concludes SAAQ lied for nearly 10 years and particularly blames Karl Malenfant
- Political damage ahead of October 2026 provincial election
Parti libéral du Québec
- Compared to a "CAQ scandal"
- Called for independent public inquiry
Québec solidaire
- Compared to the federal "sponsorship scandal"
- Demanded accountability
Even as investigations proceed, problems continue:
- December 2025-January 2026: SAAQ quietly suspends online appointment booking for 2 weeks without public announcement
- Technical issues persist
- SAAQ remains dependent on LGS/SAP for maintenance